Device for the regeneration of telegraph signals



E. ALIZON Aug. 4, 1959 Filed July 21, 1955 w x t t L .L Y I--- M 1.5:}. 1 1- i N l I l |.|I.I- I. ll i Q n 5 1 i M I fl m n 1 m -Li 1| I i: s c e d a b mm mmwmm Inveniw:

Eh'anne Hlizon by: Wall DEVICE FUR THE REGENERATION F TELEGH SIGNALS Etienne Alizon, La Celle Saint-Cloud, France, assignor to Compagnie lndustrielle des Telephones, Paris, France, a corporation of France Application July 21, 1955, Serial No. 523,555

Claims priority, application France July 26, 1954 '5 Claims. (Cl. 178-70) The object of the present invention is a device for the regeneration of telegraph signals, employing relays to the exclusion of rotating members or electronic circuits.

Regenerators of the known type employ either motordriven cams or electronic tubes. The former have the drawback of being very expensive and delicate to maintain, while the latter generally require sources of current of very different voltages and adjusted with a high degree of precision.

The device according to the invention, which applies more particularly to signals sent out in the so-called startstop code, comprises a time base consisting of a vibrating blade, called an oscillolame of the type which has been described in the French Patent No. 1,052,054 filed by applicant on March 4, 1952.

This device comprises a receiving relay of which the winding is connected to the input line of the signals, and a retransmitting relay with two opposing windings having a common point connected to one pole of a source ofdirect current of which the other pole is earthed, the two,

contacts ofthis re-transmitting relay being brought to two equal and opposite polarities, and its armature being connected to the signal retransmission line.

It is characterised in this, that it comprises an elastic blade oscillating with a demi-period equal to the duration of one undistorted telegraph signal, and which alternately interrupts, at a moment substantially in the theoretical middle of each signal received, thev connection between earth and one or the other of the two contact pieces, each of the latter being connected, by means of a back contact of auxiliary relays, to the armature of the receiving relay,

the contacts of the latter being respectively connected to the ends of the windings of the retransmitting relay, and each of the auxiliary relays being fed with current by means of one'of the contacts of the elastic blade, sothat, according to the position of the armature of the receiving relay, one or the other of the windings of'the retransmitting relay is put in connection with earth by means of the oscillating blade, during the short moment which sepa' rates the closing of one contact of said blade, and the coming into operation of the corresponding auxiliary relay.

Attached Fig. 1 represents the circuit diagram of'an example of the regenerator device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of said device; in the latter figure the upper horizontal dash corresponding to each relay indicates that this relay is actuated and the lower dash indicatestha't it is in the rest position.

In Fig. 1, TR is a receiving telegraph relay, to which 2,898,404 Patented Aug. .4, 1959 TI moves to its contact when its winding 1 is energized, and on its contact when its Winding 2 is energized.

On the other hand, Osc designates the starting coil of the oscillating blade L of an oscillolame; the half-period of free oscillation of this blade is chosen equal to the duration of an undistorted telegraph signal. This blade is earthed and is associated with two contacts 0 and O in such a way that .duringsubstant-ially a half 0t its period of oscillation the contact' 0 remains open and the contact 0 is closed, and during the next half-period the contact 0 is closed and contact 0 open.

In the following it is assumed that each telegraph sign is composed of the sequence of five signals, each having a theoretical duration of 20 milliseconds, this set of five signals being preceded by a so-called start signal of negative polarity and followed by a so-called stop signal of positive polarity, which lasts until the emission of the start signal of the next sign. It is also assumed that, in the drawing, all the arrows are connected to one pole of a source of direct current of which the other pole is earthed.

The device according to the invention operates as 1501- I lows: beginning by setting the device going by closing the circuit breaker K for a brief moment, which energises relay S through the circuit: earth, interrupter K, winding 2 of relay S, battery (not shown). 'This relay S has the.

function of causing the starting of the blade of the oscillolarne during the reception of the start signal of each sign. The armatures of relay S come on to their make contacts and the coil Osc of the oscillolame is energised the positive stop signal, make contact S winding 1 of S,

battery.

During this time, the winding 2 of the retransmitting relay 'IT is energised through: earth, contacto back contact D rectifier C make contact S winding 2 of TT, resistance r battery. The armature of relay TI is then applied on its contact, and a positive polarity of the same sign as that received on the wire Ron is transmitted on the wire Tron.

When the negative start signal preceding a telegraph sign (point a, Fig. 2) arrives on the wire Ron, the relay TR rocks on its contact and cuts ofi the holding circuit of the relay S (b, Fig. 2). This relay is slow releasing and its armature only falls back on its rest contacts (e, Fig. 2) at the end of a time equal to half the theoretical duration of one signal, i.e. 10 milliseconds. This delay can be adjusted by means of the adjustable resistance r shunting the winding 1 of S.

At this moment the winding 1 of the retransmitting relay TT is energised through: earth, 0 back contact D rectifier C armature and contact of TR, back contact S winding 1 of TT, resistance r battery. The armature of relay TT rocks on its contact and thus reproduces the movement of the armature of relay TR with a.delay equal to half a signal, i.e. 10 milliseconds. A negative polarity is applied to the wire Tron (d, Fig. 2)

The [feed circuit of relay D has been established at.

short time interval which elapses between the falling back of relay S and the engagement of relay D. It should be noted that the relay D is not energised at the time of losing. c con actr 01 ow ng. 9 thepr nc of. hem s-- fier- C2; m y. w en th na act .2v s los d, the, el y- D1 w l n t b ener is d w to her se e of hei r g ifi C1- At the time of the release of the relay S, thefeed cir-' cuit Osc of. the oscillolame is cut oft" at S The blade L is thenreleased with a certaindelay due to the actionoi' in resistance 1' and of the rectifier C and which can be adjusted by adjusting the value of the resistance 1 At the cnd of a time slightly less than 20 milliseconds, forexample 19.5 milliseconds, after the opening of S the blade opens the contact 0 (f, Fig. 2),and. allows the contact Q5 (G, Fig, 2) to be closed again. The closing of contact o causes the energisation of the winding of the relay D (11, Fig. 2), and the armature of this relay comes into the operating position at the end of about 1 millisecond. millisecond comes about 20 milliseconds after the release of relay S which itself takes place ms. after the rocking of the relay TR at the beginning of the start-signal. The said millisecond is therefore situatedin the theoretical middle ofthe first characteristic signal, following the start signal, received by the relay- TR.

During this millisecond, that is to say, between the moment g when the contact 0 is closed and the momenth i when the relay D rocks, the retransmission relay 'l'T rocks. on a position homologous with that occupied by the receiving relay TR.

In efiect, if the armature of TR is in TT rocks. on through the circuit: earth, 0 back contact D 1, rec; tifier C armature and contact of TR, back contact S winding 2 of IT, resistance r battery. If, on the other hand, TRis in rocks on through: earth, 0 back contact D rectifier C armature and. contact 7- o,f TR, back contact S4,. Winding 1 of TT, resistancer battery.

" mill ec nd a er; t e bl e.- L causes e p f e n s 2, g- 2)., ichinvolyeswi h acer: tain delay, the fallingback of relay D (i, Fig. 2,), and it releases its contact 0 (k, Fig. 2), which is closed. .RQlay, D1 i e ga d ,F sy mean e ack. c tact 55, and its armature comes to its make contact D at the. end of a time, which as in the case of relay D is ofithe order of one millisecond. As previously, bef orefthe relay D is operated, the relay IT reproduces the position of;

the. relay TR, through, the circuiti earth, contact 0 back contact D rectifier C or of TR, back contact S or S winding 2 or 10f TT, resistance r battery.

The same process. is reproduced every time the blade ofrf theoscillolame releases one of. its two contacts, that is to say, every 20 milliseconds, in the theoretical. middle ofeach signal of the. telegraph, sign received. On each. occasion, the relay TI takes'up a position homologous with. that of relay TR and sends. over the wire Tron a polarity of thesame sign as that, received on; the wire Ron. As this relay can only change position every 20 milliseconds, the signals received. are'regenerated without distortion. Moreover, the registration, by therelay TT, of the polarity of each signal received can only. take place,- as has been seen, during a brief moment situated in, the. middle of this signal, the receiyed signal can, therefore, he ilnfluenced by a considerable distortion without draw.-

Moreover, it is necessary, after the retransmission of; the last signal of each sign to, givea freshpulse to v the blade of the oscillolame, which is. done .byre energising thestarting relay S.

In order to do this, the device accordingto the inven-. tion comprises five counting relays R to R which are successively engaged, in cascade, at. thetime of thealter: nate closures of the contacts G and O of theoscjllolame; he ensasementsl quld beefiec ed. here ore, thr u h.-

the following circuits: Relay R earth, 0 make contact D back contact R relay R battery (m, Fig. 2); relay R earth, 0 make contact D back contact R back contact R relay R battery (n, Fig. 2); relay R earth, 0 make contact D make contact R back contact R relay R battery (0, Fig. 2); relay R earth, 0 make contact D back contact R make contact R relay R battery (p, Fig. 2); relay R earth, 0,, make contact D make contact R .make contact R lower. winding of relay R battery (q, Fig. 2). These relays are held engaged by their contacts R R R R R and the back contact S Whenafter the registration of the fifth sign the contact 0 of; the oscillolame is closed (r, Fig. 2) and D operates (s, Fig. 2) relay S is re-engaged through: earth 0 make contact D make contact R 4, make contact R winding of S, battery. The holding circuits of the relays R to R are thuscut off at S and the relays R t9,- R release ('t, Fig. 2); relay R is held operating through: earth contact 0 make contact D make contact R upper winding of 5, battery. The blade L again establishes'the contact 0 and cuts the contact 0 (w, Fig. 2); the D releases (x, Fig. 2) then R (y, Fig. 2)., their feed circuits being cut ofl? at 0 When, the sixth signal appears which follows the start signal, and which is necessarily a positive stop signal, the armature of relay TR rocks on its upper contact (ifit is not already there); the relay S remains engaged owing to the circuit: battery, lower winding of S, contact S in operation position, upper contact and armature of TR, rectifier C back contact D contact 0 blade L and earth. The current supply of the relay D is cut .ofi at S and its relay cannot engage (V, Fig. 2). The

winding Osc of the oscillolame is re-energised through: battery, Osc back contact R make contact S earth, so that the blade L is armed in position 0 ready to oscillate again when the start signal of the next telegraph sign is received. 4

All the relays are thus in the original position which they occupied at the beginning of the start signal and they are ready to receive a fresh signal.

The device according to the invention also comprises a device for counting the signals; this device consists of a. counter C which is. energized by means of the make contact R of the relay 5. This counter therefore registers one pulse and one pulse only per sign contrary to what happens in certain known devices in which the counter operates under the action of all the negative signals, which does not give an exact record of the real number of the signals transmitted.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for'regenerating telegraphic code signals, said signals beingin the form of a series of signal units andeach signal unit having a prevailing polarity, comprising, in combination, an input signal conductor adapted to be connected to a source of distorted telegraphic signals to ge regenerated; an output signal conductor on which the regenerated undistorted telegraphic signals are to be retransmitted; a receiving relay having a winding connected to said input signal conductor, said receiving relay being responsive to said distorted telegraphic signals, and at least two contacts, said armature being adapted to move into engagement with either of the said contacts in response tosaid winding and in accordance wtih. the polarity prevailing throughout the half duration of any of said signal units in the said distorted telegraphic signals; one direct current source; a retransmitting'relay haying at least two contacts, the last-mentioned contacts being connected to voltages of one and the other polarity, respectively, two oppositely wound windings. each winding. being associated with one of said lastrmentioned contacts, and an armature movable into engagement withone or the other of said last-mentioned contacts. in, accordance, with which winding is under operation; a. common. end. ofsaid; oppositely wound.

windings being connected to one pole of said direct current source, the two other ends of said oppositely wound windings being connected to corresponding ones of said first-mentioned contacts'of said receiving relay, respectively; the armature of said receiving relay being connected to' the other pole of said direct current source; periodical means being provided for closing and interrupting successively the connection between "said oppositely wound windings and said other pole of the direct current source, thereby to establish closing and interrupting time intervals, said closing time intervals being short relative to said interrupting time intervals, said periodical means including freely oscillating inertia means, said freely oscillating inertia means having 'a period of oscillation equal to the period of occurrence of said signal units; and means for synchronizing said freely oscillating inertia means with said input signals adapted to establish said closing time intervals at times corresponding to the middle of occurring signal units, whereby at said corresponding times one or the other of said'oppositely wound windings of said retransmitting relay is connected for a very short time to said other pole of said direct current source in accordance with the position taken by the armature of the said receiving relay, thereby bringing the armature of said retransmitting relay into engagement with a contact of the polarity prevailing in the occurring signal unit of the received distorted telegraphic signal to be regenerated.

2. Apparatus for regenerating telegraphic code signals, said signals being in the form of a series of signal units and each signal unit having a prevailing polarity, comprising, in combination, an input signal conductor adapted to be connected to a source of distorted telegraphic signals to be regenerated; an output signal conductor on which the regenerated undistorted telegraphic signals are to be retransmitted; a receiving relay having a winding connected to said input signal conductor, said receiving relay being responsive to said distorted telegraphic signals, and at least two contacts, said armature being adapted to move into engagement with either of the said contacts in response to said winding and in accordance with the polarity prevailing throughout the half duration of any of said signal units in the said distorted telegraphic signals; one direct current source; a retransmitting relay having at least two contacts, the last-mentioned contacts being connected to voltages of one and the other polarity, respectively, two oppositely wound windings each Winding being associated with one of said last-mentioned contacts, and an armature movable into engagement with one or the other of said last-mentioned contacts in accordance with which winding is under operation; a common end of said oppositely Wound windings being connected to one pole of said direct current source, the two other ends of said oppositely wound windings being connected to corresponding ones of said first-mentioned contacts of said receiving relay, respectively; the armature of said receiving relay being connected to the other pole of said direct current source; periodical means being provided for closing and interrupting successively the connection between said oppositely wound windings and said other pole of the direct current source, thereby to establish closing and interrupting time intervals, said closing time intervals being short relative to said interrupting time intervals, said periodical means including at least one spaced contact and one freely oscillating member adapted to engage said contact upon movement from a free rest position, said freely oscillating member being connected to said other pole of said direct current source and said contact being connected with the armature of said receiving relay; and means for synchronizing said periodical means with said input signal, the period of said freely oscillating member being so selected that the circuit from said other pole to the one of said oppositely wound windings which is connected with the armature of said receiving relay is closed at times corresponding to the middle of an occurring signal unit; said periodical means further including means energized by said other pole of said direct current source through said' oscillating member and said contact for interrupting said circuit at a point situated between said contact and the armature of said receiving relay at times immediately following said short closing time intervals, whereby at said corresponding times one or the other of said oppositely wound windings of said retransmitting relay is connected for a very short time to said other poleof said direct current source in accordance with the position taken bythe armature of the said receiving relay, thereby bringing the armature of said retransmitting relay into engagement with a contact of the polarity prevailing in the occurring signal unit of the received distorted telegraphic signal to be regenerated.

3. Apparatus for regenerating telegraphic code signals, said signals being in the form of a series of signal units and each signal unit having a prevailing polarity, comprissing, in combination, an input signal conductor adapted to be connected to a source of distorted telegraphic signals to be regenerated; an output signal conductor on which the regenerated undistorted telegraphic signals are to be retransmitted; a receiving relay having a winding connected to said input signal conductor, said receiving relay being responsive to said distorted telegraphic signals, and at least two contacts, said armature being adapted to move into engagement with either of the said contacts in response to said winding and in accordance with the polarity prevailing throughout the half duration of any of said signal units in the said distorted telegraphic signals; one direct current source; a retransmitting relay having at least two contacts, the last-mentioned contacts being connected to voltages of one and the other polarity, respectively, two oppositely wound windings each winding being associated with one of said last-mentioned contacts, and an armature movable into engagement with one or the other of said last-mentioned contacts in accordance with which winding is under operation; a common end of said oppositely wound windings being connected to one pole of said direct current source, the two other ends of said oppositely Wound windings being connected to corresponding ones of said first-mentioned contacts of said receiving relay, respectively; the armature of said receiving relay being connected to the other pole of said direct current source; periodical means being provided for closing and interrupting successively the connection between said oppositely wound windings and said other pole of the direct current source, thereby to establish closing and interrupting time intervals, said closing time intervals being short relative to said interrupting time intervals, said periodical means including at least two spaced fixed contacts, one freely oscillating member adapted upon oscillation to come into engagement with alternately one or the other of said spaced fixed contacts, said freely oscillating member being connected to said other pole of said direct current source and each of said spaced contacts being connected to said armature of said receiving relay, whereby upon engagement of said freely oscillating member with one of said spaced contacts, one of said oppositely wound windings of said retransmitting relay is connected through the armature of said receiving relay to said other pole of said direct source thereby to position the armature of said retransmitting relay in accordance with the connected winding thereof, said periodical means further comprising two slow action auxiliary relays each having rest contacts, said rest contacts being inserted in the two circuits extending from said spaced contacts to the armature of said receiving relay, respectively, and said auxiliary relays having windings, each connected to said one pole of said direct current source and to one of said rest contacts, respectively, for energization by said other pole of said direct current source upon engagement of one of said spaced contacts by said freely oscillating member, the delay action of said auxiliary relays being accurately selected so that said rest contacts do not open upon 7 engagement of one ofsaid spacedcontacts by said freely oscillating member 'until' after apredetermined-short closing time interval immediately following the said engagement by said freely oscillating member, the period of said freely oscillating member being selected equal to the normal period of the distorted signal units received on said input signal conductor; and means for synchronizing said periodical means With said input signals adapted to establish said closing time intervals at times corresponding to the middle of an occurring signalunit, whereby at said corresponding times one or the other of said oppositely wound windings of said retransmitting relay is connected for a very short time to said other pole of said direct current source in accordance with the position taken by the armature of said receiving relay, thereby bringing the armature of said retransmitting relay into engagement with a contact of the polarity prevailing in the occurring signal unit of the received distorted telegraphic signal to be regenerated.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for synchronizing includes a starting relay for initiating free oscillations of said freely oscillating member, said starting relay being normally energized and being returned to its deenergized condition, upon reception of the first telegraphic signal by said receiving relay, with a releasing time equal to one half of the pulse width of an undistorted telegraphic signal, said starting relay having at least two rest contacts connected in circuit between said contacts of said receiving relay and said windings of said retransmitting relay for establishing said respective circuit 8 upon return-of said starting'relay to said unenergized condition thereofL 5. Apparatus as-claimed in claim? wherein said means for synchronizing firr'ther' includes-aplurality of relays equal'in number 'to' the number of ditferent elements which constitute a" telegraphic character, each' of said plurality of relays being connected successively in circuit witli one of s'aid'auxiliary relays, respectively, to be energized sequentially upon energization of its respective auxiliary relay, said plurality of relays-being connected in circuit with a rest contact of said starting relay and being maintained-in theenergiz'edcondition thereof by said rest contact, the last-of said plurality of relays being energized having at least'two windings, each of said two windings being connectedto one-of saidspacedfixed contacts, respectively, of said oscillating means, said last relay being energized-by the operation of its respective auxiliary relay upon contact of said-"oscillating member with one of said spaced fiired contacts and thereby partially completing an energization circuit for said starting relay, said energization circuit being completed the next time said oscillating member'makes contactwith the other of said spaced fixed contacts whereby said starting relay is energized and said plurality of relays is returned to the deenergized position thereof;

Oberman Mar. 27, 1951 Ridler et a1 Nov. 1, 1955 

